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productions。 This； however； was no better than a gasconade。 Yesterday the house was in a hot alarm； on account of a new windfall of this kind： the sisters were in tears； the brother was visited by the cure of the parish； the lady in the straw （a sempstress） sent him the bantling in a basket； and he transmitted it by the carriers to the Enfans trouves at Paris。
But to return from this digression： Mr。 B advised me to send a requete or petition to the chancellor of France； that I might obtain an order to have my books examined on the spot； by the president of Boulogne； or the procureur du roy； or the sub…delegate of the intendance。 He recommended an advocat of his acquaintance to draw up the memoire； and introduced him accordingly； telling me at the same time； in private； that if he was not a drunkard； he would be at the head of his profession。 He had indeed all the outward signs of a sot； a sleepy eye； a rubicund face； and carbuncled nose。 He seemed to be a little out at elbows； had marvellous foul linen； and his breeches were not very sound： but he assumed an air of importance； was very courteous； and very solemn。 I asked him if he did not sometimes divert himself with the muse： he smiled； and promised； in a whisper； to shew me some chansonettes de sa facon。 Meanwhile he composed the requete in my name； which was very pompous； very tedious； and very abject。 Such a stile might perhaps be necessary in a native of France； but I did not think it was at all suitable to a subject of Great…Britain。 I thanked him for the trouble he had taken； as he would receive no other gratification； but when my landlord proposed to send the memoire to his correspondent at Paris； to be delivered to the chancellor； I told him I had changed my mind； and would apply to the English ambassador。 I have accordingly taken the liberty to address myself to the earl of H； and at the same time I have presumed to write to the duchess of D； who is now at Paris； to entreat her grace's advice and interposition。 What effect these applications may have； I know not： but the sieur B shakes his head； and has told my servant； in confidence； that I am mistaken if I think the English ambassador is as great a man at Paris as the chancellor of France。
I ought to make an apology for troubling you with such an unentertaining detail； and consider that the detention of my books must be a matter of very little consequence to any body； but toYour affectionate humble servant。
LETTER III
BOULOGNE； August 15； 1763。
SIRI am much obliged to you for your kind enquiries after my health； which has been lately in a very declining condition。 In consequence of a cold； caught a few days after my arrival in France； I was seized with a violent cough； attended with a fever； and stitches in my breast； which tormented me all night long without ceasing。 At the same time I had a great discharge by expectoration； and such a dejection of spirits as I never felt before。 In this situation I took a step which may appear to have been desperate。 I knew there was no imposthume in my lungs； and I supposed the stitches were spasmodical。 I was sensible that all my complaints were originally derived from relaxation。 I therefore hired a chaise； and going to the beach； about a league from the town； plunged into the sea without hesitation。 By this desperate remedy； I got a fresh cold in my head： but my stitches and fever vanished the very first day； and by a daily repetition of the bath； I have diminished my cough； strengthened my body； and recovered my spirits。 I believe I should have tried the same experiment； even if there had been an abscess in my lungs； though such practice would have been contrary to all the rules of medicine： but I am not one of those who implicitly believe in all the dogmata of physic。 I saw one of the guides at Bath； the stoutest fellow among them； who recovered from the last stage of a consumption； by going into the king's bath； contrary to the express injunction of his doctor。 He said； if he must die； the sooner the better； as he had nothing left for his subsistence。 Instead of immediate death； he found instant case； and continued mending every day； till his health was entirely re…established。 I myself drank the waters of Bath； and bathed； in diametrical opposition to the opinion of some physicians there settled； and found myself better every day； notwithstanding their unfavourable prognostic。 If I had been of the rigid fibre； full of blood； subject to inflammation； I should have followed a different course。 Our acquaintance； doctor C； while he actually spit up matter； and rode out every day for his life； led his horse to water； at the pond in Hyde…Park； one cold frosty morning； and the beast； which happened to be of a hot constitution； plunged himself and his master over head and ears in the water。 The poor doctor hastened home； half dead with fear； and was put to bed in the apprehension of a new imposthume； instead of which； he found himself exceedingly recruited in his spirits； and his appetite much mended。 I advised him to take the hint； and go into the cold bath every morning； but he did not chuse to run any risque。 How cold water comes to be such a bugbear； I know not： if I am not mistaken； Hippocrates recommends immersion in cold water for the gout； and Celsus expressly says； in omni tussi utilis est natatio： in every cough swimming is of service。
I have conversed with a physician of this place； a sensible man； who assured me he was reduced to meer skin and bone by a cough and hectic fever； when he ordered a bath to be made in his own house； and dipped himself in cold water every morning。 He at the same time left off drinking and swallowing any liquid that was warm。 He is now strong and lusty； and even in winter has no other cover than a single sheet。 His notions about the warm drink were a little whimsical： he imagined it relaxed the tone of the stomach； and this would undoubtedly be the case if it was drank in large quantities； warmer than the natural temperature of the blood。 He alledged the example of the inhabitants of the Ladrone islands； who never taste any thing that is not cold； and are remarkably healthy。 But to balance this argument I mentioned the Chinese； who scarce drink any thing but warm tea； and the Laplanders； who drink nothing but warm water； yet the people of both these nations are remarkably strong； healthy； and long…lived。
You desire to know the fate of my books。 My lord Hd is not yet come to France； but my letter was transmitted to him from Paris； and his lordship； with that generous humanity which is peculiar to his character； has done me the honour to assure me； under his own hand； that he has directed Mr。 Nlle； our resident at Paris； to apply for an order that my books may be restored。
I have met with another piece of good fortune； in being introduced to general Paterson and his lady； in their way to England from Nice； where the general has been many years commandant for the king of Sardinia。 You must have heard of this gentleman； who has not only eminently distinguished himself； by his courage and conduct as an officer； but als